REAL-TIME CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY U.S. CAPTIONING COMPANY ONE WELL-KNOWN DETROIT NAME READY TO TAKE ON ANOTHER. HORACE SHEFFIELD ON HIS DECISION TO CHALLENGE JOHN CONYERS FOR CONGRESS. THE PLAN OF ADJUSTMENT IS FILED. OUR ROUND TABLE ON WHAT IT CONTAINS AND WHAT COMES NEXT. TODAY IS FEBRUARY 23RD, 2014 AND THIS IS FLASH POINT. HI, WELCOME TO FLASH POINT AND NOW WE MOVE INTO THE NEXT CHAPTER OF THIS LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT. EMERGENCY MANAGER KEVYN ORR PRESENTED HIS PLAN OF ADJUSTMENT ON FRIDAY, ADJUSTMENT IS AN INTERESTING WORD IT SOUNDS LIKE A COURSE CORRECTION OR A TWEAK. IT'S MORE THAN A TWEAK. IT'S A BLOOD-STAINED DOCUMENT IF YOU'RE SOMEONE TO WHOM THE CITY OWES MONEY, BUT HOW CAN THIS CUTTING AFFECT YOUR SERVICES AND QUALITY OF LIFE. PERHAPS MORE GOOD THAN EXPECTED, BUT IT'S JUST A PLAN. THE JUDGE STEVEN RHODES WOULD NOT BE MISTAKEN FOR A RUBBER STM AND WE'LL SEE WHETHER THIS AIRPLANE WILL FLY. AND VOLKSWAGEN WORKERS SAY THANKS, BUT NO THANKS TO THE UAW. A LOT OF UNION SUPPORTERS SEEMED TO FRAME IT AS A SMALL SETBACK. OTHERS SEE IT LIKE A CANNON BALL THROUGH THE HULL. UP NEXT, JOHN CONYERS IN CONGRESS SINCE 1965. IF YOU'RE UNDER THE AGE OF 50 HE'S BEEN THERE YOUR ENTIRE LIFE. FEW DARED TO TRY TO TAKE THE SEAT FROM UNDERNEATH CONYERS, BUT HORACE SHEFFIELD SAYS IT'S TIME FOR CONYERS TO GO. HE'S UP FIRST ON FLASH POINT. ? YOU KNOW, ONLY JOHN DINGELL KEEPS JOHN CONYERS FROM BEING THE LONGEST SERVING MEMBER OF THE CONGRESS. REVEREND HORACE SHEFFIELD SAYS IT'S TIME THAT JOHN CONYERS STEPPED DOWN. AND HE'S MY GUEST. THANK YOU FOR BEING ON THE PROGRAM. MAKE ME LOOK BETTER. THAT'S A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY AS YOU MOVE INTO THINKING ABOUT A CAMPAIGN NOW. LET'S START WITH THE FACT THAT FOR A LONG TIME JOHN CONYERS, I THINK, HAS BEEN SEEN AS AN UNTOUCHABLE BY A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH POLITICAL ASPIRATIONS OUT OF RESPECT FOR THE FACT THAT HE'S A CIVIL RIGHTS TITAN. SURE CO-FOUNDER OF THE BLACK CONGRESSIONAL CAUCUS. YOU'VE THOUGHT ABOUT RUNNING AGAINST HIM, BUT WHY NOW? FOUR YEARS AGO, THE PROSPECT OF BECOMING A CHAIR OF A MAJOR COMMITTEE, JUSTICE COMMITTEE, PERSUADED ME WITH THE TOP UNION OFFICIALS, THAT THE TIMING WASN'T GOOD. WE DISCUSSED THINGS AND IT DIDN'T COME TO FRUITION. THE MAIN THING, OF' WATCHED HIM AND DON'T ANY WE GET THE BANG FOR OUR BUCK. I THINK THE CONGRESSMAN SERVED US WELL AND IT'S TIME FOR HIM TO BE HONORED, NOT NECESSARILY SERVICE IN THE OCCUPATION PRESENTLY OCCUPIED. ARE YOU SUGGESTING HE'S NOT WORKING HARD OR ABLE TO-- I DON'T WANT TO CAST ANY APERSIANS ON HIM, MY FATHER WORKED UNTIL THE DAY HE DIED, 80 YEARS OF AGE. WHEN YOU CONTRAST, HIS MIND IS SHARP AS EVER, STAFF IS WELL-ORGANIZED. WHEN WE'RE IN THE REGION, THE AREA WHERE WE'RE SUFFERING AS WE ARE, WE NEED SOMEONE WHO IS GOING TO BE A WEDGE BETWEEN PASSING THE BUCK AND THE RED TAPE. SO YOU DON'T FEEL THAT JOHN CONYERS HAS THE MENTAL-- THAT HE'S NOT AS SHARP AS-- I THINK THAT HE HAS LOST THE ABILITY TO SERVE IN HIS PRESENT CAPACITY, BUT I ALSO THINK MORE IMPORTANT THAN THAT IS WHAT DOES HE REPRESENT? WHAT IS HE AGGRESSIVE ABOUT? WHAT INTEREST DOES HE REPRESENT? HOW AGGRESSIVE IS HE IN A REGION TO PUT THE WORLD ON WHEELS AND RAN OUT OF GAS TO HELP US REFUEL OR RETOOL. THE QUESTION COMES UP WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT SOMEBODY WHO'S BEEN IN CONGRESS IS WHERE THEY ARE ON COMMITTEES, THE KIND OF LEADERSHIP THEY HAVE THERE. HE'S THE RANKING DEMOCRAT ON THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE. WHICH IS A TERRIBLY IMPORTANT COMMITTEE. DO WE LOSE SOMETHING SENDING A ROOKIE IN HIS PLACE? YOU HAVE TO WEIGH WHAT YOU GAIN BY WHAT YOU LOSE. IF OVERALL THE REGION, THE DISTRICT, THE CITY OF DETROIT, THE MUNICIPALITIES THAT COMPRISE THAT DISTRICT ARE NOT GETTING WHAT THEY SHOULD FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, ARE NOT ABLE TO GO TO HIM TO BE THAT WELCOME BETWEEN PASSING THE BUCK AND RED TAPE, WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MATTER WHERE YOU SIT IF YOU DON'T DELIVER ANYTHING FROM THE TABLE. I WANT TO LOOK AT WHAT YOU SEE AS YOUR PRIORITIES IN CONGRESS. FIRST, LET'S ADDRESS WHAT YOU'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH LATELY. SURE. A MUG SHOT IS TYPICALLY NOT TYPICALLY CONSIDERED GOOD CAMPAIGN LITERATURE. SURE. YOU'VE BEEN CHARGED WITH-- I SIT HERE AS A DIVORCED MAN AND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN JOHN CONYERS AND I AS IT COMES TO WIFE, MY TROUBLE IS STILL GONE, HIS IS STILL WITH HIM. THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE NEEDS TO BE ON THE CONTEXT OF A PHONE THAT I SUPPOSEDLY SNATCHED. MY LAWYERS ARE TALKING ABOUT HOW WE CAN DEFEND MYSELF AGGRESSIVELY. I WAS STRUCK WITH THAT PHONE AND SOMEONE DELIBERATELY TRIED TO PROVOKE ME AND DO THINGS IN MY HOUSE AND DESTROY MY PROPERTY. I'LL GO ON AND ON AND ON. I'VE NEVER TOUCHED A WOMAN IN MY LIFE. THIS IS SOMETHING YOU GO THROUGH AND THIS PARTICULAR PERSON, MY EX-WIFE IS TIED TO SOMEONE VERY CLOSE TO CONYERS AND IN FACT, THE JOB SHE HAS WITH THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, SHE OWES TO THIS PERSON. SO THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONABLE THINGS. THIS-- YOU'VE PLEADED NOT-- THIS INCIDENT IS THIS HAPPENED A MONTH AGO, A MONTH AGO AND THE POLICE CAME OUT AND YOU LOOK AT THE POLICE REPORTS ARE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. WHAT SHE TOLD TO THE OFFICERS AND MY DAUGHTER TOLD THEM IS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT SHE ASCRIBED. YOU'VE PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO THE CHARGE AND THIS WILL PLAY ITSELF OUT. SOME WOULD SAY THE FACT YOU WERE MARRIED FOR ABOUT A YEAR TO A WOMAN YOU'RE NOW HAVING THIS TROUBLE WITH. MAYBE THIS SPEAKS TO YOUR JUDGMENT AS THEY'RE CONSIDERING YOU FOR LEADERSHIP? IT SPEAKS TO MY JUDGMENT. ALL OF US MAKE MISTAKES. HAD I KNOWN WHAT I KNOW NOW, MAYBE I WOULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING DIFFERENTLY. THE HEART HAS REASON, THE REASON DOES NOT UNDERSTAND. I WAS IN LOVE. I LOVED THIS WOMAN. AND I MARRIED THIS WOMAN BECAUSE I LOVED THIS WOMAN AND IN SOME WAYS, I STILL LOVE HER IT'S JUST OIL AND WATER. ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT IT AFFECT YOUR YOUR AIN'T TO RUN A CAMPAIGN? I CERTAINLY AM, BUT LISTEN, THE PEOPLE WHO KNOW ME THE BEST AND MOST, KNOW ME. I'VE HEARD FROM PEOPLE ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY, AND I DON'T WANT TO DEMOLISH ANYTHING. MAYBE THINGS COULD HAVE BEEN HANDLED DIFFERENTLY, BUT THERE'S NO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN MY MINDSET. LET'S MOVE TO WHY YOU WANT TO RUN FOR CONGRESS, WHY ARE YOU THE PERSON AND WHAT WOULD YOU BE THE CHIEF FOCUS WOULD BE IN WASHINGTON? WE LIVE IN A REGION AGAIN, AS I SAID, THAT PUT THE WORLD ON WHEELS AND RAN OUT OF GAS. WE SPENT MILLIONS IN IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN, EVERYWHERE IN THE WORLD AND WE TELL WORKING CLASS, BLUE COLLAR PEOPLE, YOU'VE GOT O PULL YOURSELF UP BY YOUR BOOT STRAPS. THIS UNCLE SAM CAN BE MORE -- WE DON'T WANT TO STIFLE INDIVIDUALS, BUT WE HAVE A H HUMONGOUS WORKING POOR, I CALL THEM. WIFE AND HUSBAND GO TO WORK EVERY DAY AND CAN'T AFFORD HEALTH INSURANCE. WE GOT HELP FROM THE PRESIDENT ON THAT. WHAT ARE WE DOING TO HELP THE MUNICIPALITY OF THIS REGION AND DISTRICT, WHO NEEDS SOMEBODY TO BE AGGRESSIVE, AND THERE'S A QUID PRO QUO, A GREATER EXCHANGE FOR WHAT THEY SEND TO WASHINGTON AND I WORKED FOR MAYOR KOCH, I WATCHED FOR STATE SENATORS, I'VE DONE THIS AND KNOW HOW TO SERVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEEDS THAT REQUIRE SOMEONE OTHER THAN THEMSELVES IN GOVERNMENT TO HELP THEM. AS A PASTOR, I THINK MOST PEOPLE WOULD ASSUME YOUR FIRST RESPONSIBILITY IS TO YOUR PARISHIONERS AND TO YOUR CHURCH. YES, YES. ANY MISGIVING UP AND GIVING UP THAT PORTION OF YOUR LIFE? I WOULDN'T BE LEAVING THAT PORTION OF MY LIFE. MY MEMBERSHIP IN MY CHURCH IS A BED ROCK OF MY SPIRITUALITY. I HAVE TO WORSHIP, I HAVE TO SERVE THE LORD WHO HAS GIVEN ME A SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE. ONE OF DR. KING'S TEACHERS SAID WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO CHRISTIANIZE THE SOCIAL ORDER, THE GOOD SAMARITAN DID A GOOD THING GETTING RID OF THE WORLD OF THIEVES, BUT THEY SHOULD MAKE SURE THE THIEVES NEVER TRAVEL THAT ROAD AGAIN. I'M TRYING TO BRING TO BEAR ON A LARGER PLATFORM WHAT I TRY TO DO EVERY DAY OF THE PEOPLE I SERVE IN THAT CONGREGATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. AND I KNOW YOU'RE PROUD THAT YOUR DAUGHTER IS NOW A MEMBER OF THE CITY COUNCIL. I'M TICKLED PINK. WELCOME BACK. THE PLAN OF ADJUSTMENT HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE COURT. LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT. BEFORE WE DO THAT, LET'S GET INTO THE JOHN CONYERS SITUATION AND LET'S BRING IN THE ROUND TABLE. SHEILA COCHERAL IS HERE AND OTHER SIDE OF THE TABLE, NOLAN FINLEY, AND PORSCHE ROBESON THE DIRECTOR OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS AND JUSTICE DIVISION. ETHICS. AND ETHICS. GREAT TO HAVE YOU WITH US. LET ME START WITH YOU. THERE HAVE BEEN WHISPERS FOR A LONG TIME WHETHER JOHN CONYERS OUGHT TO KEEP GOING BACK TO WASHINGTON. NOBODY HAS WANTED TO STEP UP TO RUN AGAINST HIM IN A SERIOUS CHALLENGING WAY. WHAT DO YOU THINK? YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S GREAT. YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT REVEREND SHEFFIELD WANTS TO GET OUT THERE AND GET OUT THERE EARLY. CHALLENGES ARE SOMETIMES GOOD. IT'S AN INTERESTING RACE AND RIGHT NOW I THINK IT'S INTERESTING THAT REVEREND SHEFFIELD HAS JUMPED OUT WAY AHEAD OF TIME TO SAY THIS IS WHAT HE WANTS TO DO AND COME OUT PRETTY STRONG, IT WILL BE AN INTERESTING RACE AND A LONG TIME THAT JOHN CONYERS HAD AN INTERESTING RACE. I DISAGREE WITH THAT. THE LAST TIME HE FACED A CHALLENGE, HE FACED-- IT HASN'T BEEN-- PEOPLE SEEM TO BE GENERAL GEUFLECTING-- TIMES HAVE CHANGED AND IT SEEMS THAT REVEREND SHEFFIELD SEEMS TO BE HITTING A CORD AND PEOPLE NEED TO MEET THE CHALLENGES OF THE MOMENT AND NOT REST ON THE LAURELS OF THE PAST. AND WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT REPLACING THEM, AND WHO YOU'RE REPLACING THEM WITH. IT'S GREAT TO HAVE CHOICES. DIDN'T WE HAVE TO-- A CHOICE LAST TIME? LAST TIME AS YOU SAID, THEY WERE PAYING THEIR DUES TO CONYERS AND YOU KNOW, WELL, HE'S BEEN A GREAT MAN AND HE DESERVES ALL OUR RESPECT, BUT IT'S TIME FOR FRESH FACES. HORACE SEEMS TO BE GOING AT HIM. A LITTLE MORE SCORCHED EARTH. IF YOU'RE GOING TO RUN AGAINST HIM, YOU HAVE TO RUN AGAINST HIM AND I THINK HE'S CALLING HIM OUT ON THE VULNERABILITY. AND I ALSO THINK THE POLITICAL CONTEXT NOW FOR THE CITY AND REGION IS, WE'RE ALL ABOUT CHANGE. EVERYTHING'S ON THE TABLE SO IF THERE'S EVER A TIME WHEN LONG, LONGEVITY AND YOU KNOW, SORT OF RUNNING A CAMPAIGN THAT'S ROOTED IN YOUR HISTORY COULD BE INSUFFICIENT, THIS IS IT. YEAH, AND THEN WE STILL AWAIT WORD ON WHETHER OR NOT THE GUY WHO IS THE ONLY PERSON TO SERVE LONGER THAN JOHN CONYERS IN CONGRESS, JOHN DINGELL, WHETHER HE'S GOING TO RUN THIS YEAR. LET'S MOVE ON TO THE PLAN OF ADJUSTMENT. NANCY, YOU'VE MADE WAY THROUGH MOST OF IT. AND IT'S BEEN TOUTED AS A 120-PAGE LONG DOCUMENT AND IT'S LONGER WHEN YOU INCLUDE THE HUNDREDS OF PAGES OF DISCLOSURES THAT ARE INCLUDED, BUT I'M NOT SURE WHEN WE STARTED THIS OUT AND STARTED TALKING ABOUT BANKRUPTCY THAT PEOPLE THOUGHT THAT KEVYN ORR WAS GOING TO HOLD PENSIONERS IN BETTER STEAD THAN THE BONDHOLDERS. HE'S BEEN SAYING SINCE HE CAME IN THAT HIS JOB WAS TO GO ET THE BOOKS BALANCED AND SETTLE THE DEBTS FOR THE MONEY THAT THE CITY HAD AVAILABLE TO DO IT AND HE'S NEVER MADE ANY SECRET ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE PENSIONERS WERE LIKELY GOING TO BE VULNERABLE. IN THIS PLAN WE SEE THAT THEY ARE, THE WORST CASE SCENARIO IS A 34% CUT TO THE PENSIONS OF GENERAL RETIREMENT SYSTEM RETIREES. A 10% CUT TO POLICE AND FIRE. IF THESE GUYS ACCEPT THE AGREEMENT, AGREEING TO NOT SUE THE STATE FOR ANYTHING OR THE CITY GOING FORWARD AND THEN IN A TIMELY FASHION, AGREE TO THIS DEAL. AND THESE WOULD BE MITIGATED TO 26% AND 4%, WHICH FOR THE GENERAL FUND RETIREES ON THE AVERAGE PENSION MEANS 1100 A MONTH. ALMOST $1200 A MONTH AND THAT'S JUST REALLY NOT A LOT OF MONEY. WELL, LET ME SEE IF EVERYBODY AGREES BEFORE I WEIGH IN. I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND, I UNDERSTAND THAT. I AM A PENSIONER. I WILL BE DIRECTLY, PERSONALLY AFFECTED BY THIS, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY FOR THE CITY TO SURVIVE, THERE ARE GOING TO BE SACRIFICES. THE SOONER MORE PEOPLE-- THE SOONER THE PENSION SYSTEMS COME TO THE TABLE AND MAKE A DEAL, I WOULD THINK IT WOULD HELP MITIGATE THE EXTENT OF THE -- OF THE CUT 'CAUSE IF UNADDRESSED WHERE THIS ALL ENDS UP IS WHERE NO PENSION, SO AT SOME POINT THIS IS A TERRIBLE SITUATION. IT CREATES GREAT ANGST AND GREAT UNCERTAINTY. I MEAN, I AM READJUSTING, RECALIBRATING MY VISION OF MY FUTURE BECAUSE I KNOW THAT I'M GOING TO TAKE A BIG HIT TO MY PENSION. BUT 65% OF SOMETHING IS BETTER THAN 100% OF NOTHING. THAT'S TRUE. AND IT'S PROBABLY THE BEST DEAL IS, AS SHEILA SAYS, THE BEST DEAL YOU'RE GOING TO GET. BANKRUPTCY AFFECTS PENSIONS AND IN THIS CASE YOU'VE GOT A GROUP OF CREDITORS, BANKS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS STILL FIGHTING THIS IDEA THAT PENSIONERS ARE GOING TO BE TREATED BETTER THAN THEY ARE. AND UNDER A BANKRUPTCY, THEY EXPECT ALL CLASSES-- OR ALL PARTIES WITHIN A CLASS TO BE TREATED EQUAL. SO THESE PENSIONERS RUN THE RISK OF THE COURT AGREEING WITH THAT ARGUMENT AND LOSING A WHOLE LOT MORE MONEY THAN THEY'RE LOSING NOW. AND THE TRAGEDY IS THAT YOU'RE STILL TALKING ABOUT REDUCING PEOPLE'S PENSION THEY'VE RELIED ON AND THEY'VE WORKED ALL THIS YEAR AND THOUGHT THEY COULD RETIRE AND HAVE IT. I UNDERSTAND THAT A CUT HAS TO BE MADE AND THEY HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT AND THE QUICKER THEY COME TO THE TABLE THE BETTER OFF THEY'RE GOING TO BE, BUT IT'S STILL VERY DIFFICULT TO THINK OF PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT THERE SURVIVING, WHEN I SAY SURVIVING, BARELY SURVIVING ON THE AMOUNT THEY'RE GETTING NOW AND GETTING A REDUCTION OF 26% IS GOING TO BE HUGE. SOME OF THE HEADLINES SEEM TO BE ABOUT PEOPLE WHO HAPPEN TO HAVE AN EXTRAORDINARILY FAT PENSION. THE TRUTH IS A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GETTING BY ON A LOT LESS. MOST DON'T HAVE EXTRAORDINARILY HIGH PENSION AND QUITE A FEW ARE NOT IN A POSITION TO GET OTHER EMPLOYMENT. WE'RE IN A SITUATION IN THIS CITY WE'RE TRYING TO EMPLOY THE YOUNGER PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE. WE'RE TRYING TO BUILD JOBS SO PEOPLE WILL COME BACK TO THE CITY. SO CERTAINLY FOR THOSE PEOPLE OUT THERE NOW TRYING TO RE-ENTER THE WORK FORCE AT A CERTAIN AGE, IT'S NOT-- HOW ABOUT THE 128 MILLION DOLLARS RAISED FROM THE DIA DONORS AND FROM THE STATE AND OTHERS, AND THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE PENSIONS WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH GREATER. THIS IS BAD, BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE AND STILL CAN. LET'S BE CLEAR THAT DEAL ISN'T DONE YET. IF THE STATE COMES IN THE DEAL IS GOING TO FALL APART. OBVIOUSLY THE CITY DOESN'T HAVE THE MONEY, THAT'S VERY CLEAR, I THINK WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT. NOW, WHAT KEVYN ORR IS ALSO SAYING IN THE DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT SAYS THAT PENSIONERS WHO FALL BELOW THE THRESHOLD POVERTY LEVEL WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR ADDITIONAL BENEFITS AND HE WAS TELLING PROPERTIES FRIDAY THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO GET ABOUT 138% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL. HAVEN'T RUN THE NUMBERS ON THAT. LET ME RUIN THESE NUMBERS AND WELCOME BACK. WEDNESDAY OF THIS WEEK, MAYOR MIKE DUGGAN WILL GIVE HIS STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS. DIFFICULT TO ASSESS, ISN'T IT? GIVEN HOW MUCH WE STILL DON'T KNOW. LET'S LOOK AT THE PLAN OF ADJUSTMENT. SHEILA THERE'S A LOT THAT HASN'T BEEN DECIDED THAT WE HAVEN'T FIGURED OUT. THE REAL WILD CARD HAS BEEN INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH JUDGE RHODES BECAUSE TWICE NOW KEVYN ORR THOUGHT HE HAD THE SWAPS DEAL FIGURED OUT AND THE JUDGE SAID GO TRY AGAIN. HE'S NOW GO THE -- GOT A THIRD PLAN WHICH IS GOING TO BE AN ELEMENT OF THE PROCESS GOING FORWARD. I THINK ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THE PLAN OF ADJUSTMENT IS A NECESSARY STEP, BUT THE DEALS AREN'T DONE, THE NEGOTIATIONS AREN'T OVER. THIS IS NOW THE NEXT INFLECTION POINT WHERE REAL PROGRESS WILL GET MADE BECAUSE EVERYBODY KNOWS THE JUDGE CAN CRAM DOWN SOMETHING ON ANY AND EVERYBODY SHOULD HE CHOOSE. THE WATER DEAL IS HANGING OUT THERE AND IT'S HAPPENED WHEN WE'VE WATCHED MAIN AFTER WATER MAIN, AFTER WATER MAIN FLOOD STREETS BECAUSE OF THE HORRENDOUS WINTER AND BROOKS PATTERSON SAYS I DON'T NEED TO BE PART OF IT. HE SAYS HE'S NOT COMING TO THE TABLE BECAUSE HE SAYS NO DEAL OR A BAD DEAL. AND BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER THE ADMINISTRATION IS WORKING HARD TO TRY TO GET THOSE AS REPAIRED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND PREVENT AS MUCH AS IT CAN. SYMBOLIC TIMING IS ROUGH. IT'S A DIFFICULT TIME TO SEE IT. AND BROOKS AND MARK HACKELL, BROOKS WOULD RATHER SEE IT PRIVATIZE. THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE IDEA THAT THE WATER SYSTEM BECOMES A REVENUE STREAM FOR THE CITY OF DETROIT GENERAL FUND WHEN THEY DON'T BELIEVE IT'S TRULY AN ASSET. THEY THINK IT'S A LIABILITY AND ALL OF THAT MONEY SHOULD BE POURED BACK INTO FIXING THE SYSTEM. THEY DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S AN EXTRA 47 MILLION THERE. AND I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IS CONVINCED OF THE PRICE OF FIXING IT AND KEEPING IT RUNNING. THE OTHER THING THAT'S INTERESTING IN THIS PLAN, WHEN WE STARTED THE TRIP INTO BANKRUPTCY, DETROITERS WERE LEFT THINKING THAT SERVICES WERE JUST GOING TO GET GETTING WORSE AND WORSE AND WORSE. THIS PLAN HAS A LOT BUILT INTO IT TO TRY TO MAKE THINGS BETTER. 520 MILLION DOLLARS FOR BLIGHT PROBLEMS IN THE NEXT SIX YEARS, WE'RE TALKING 400 SOMETHING HOUSES DEMOLISHED A WEEK. 450. I KIND OF QUESTION IF THAT HE IS POSSIBLE, BASED ON THE CAPACITY TO DEMO AND HOLDUPS IN THE PROCESS. NO ONE CAN ARGUE THAT'S A HUGE NEED IN THE CITY. AND 148 MILLION FOR THE TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE. RIGHT. THAT'S, TO ME, THAT'S FOR MAYOR DUGGAN AND HIS TEAM TO HAVE A SHOT AT BEING ABLE TO DO THE PLANS THAT THEY HAVE IN PLACE, THAT HAS TO BE FIXED. THAT'S UP THERE WITH POLICE AND FIRE IN TERMS OF MAKING THE CITY SAFE AND FUNCTIONAL. IF YOU CAN'T RATIONIZE CITY ORANGESES AND MAKE THE TAXES IT IS OWED TO DO BUSINESS MORE EFFICIENTLY, WHATEVER HAPPENS IN THE BANKRUPTCY COURT DOESN'T MATTER. WE'RE BACK HERE IF WE CAN'T MAKE THE CITY A MORE FUNCTIONAL PLACE. IT'S A REFLECTION TO THE FUTURE OF THE CITY. THEY COME HERE AND DEALT WITH THE DEBT, DID A STRAIGHT BANKRUPTCY, BUT THIS PLAN DEALS WITH LEAVING BEHIND A SUSTAINABLE CITY AND-- WHICH IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CORPORATE BANKRUPTCY. WHAT THEY'RE NOT SEEING, THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE MUNICIPALITY BANKRUPTCY IS TO LEAVE BEHIND A FUNCTIONAL CITY. WHAT IS WHAT KEVYN ORR HAS DONE, HE'LL LEAVE THE MAYOR WITH BALANCED BOOKS AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE. I WANT TO GET TO WHAT'S HAPPENED WITH THE UAW AND THE VOTES IN VOLKSWAGON. NOLAN AS I ASKED ONLINE LAST WEEK, BUMP IN THE ROAD OR A WATERLOO. THEY RAN INTO THE WORST ENEMY IN CHATTANOOGA. THEY HAVE A CONTENT WORK FORCE. THERE WAS NOTHING TO SELL THEM. THEY MAKE WAGES, COMPARABLE. GOOD BENEFITS, GOOD PLANT. WHAT WERE YOU SELLING THEM? WHAT THEY SHOULD HAVE SOLD THEM, I'M FROM ALABAMA WHEN AN AUTO PLANT COMES IN, A HIGHER WAGE THAN OTHER JOBS, THE EPLOYEE IS CONSENTED, BUT THE ONLY REASON THAT THEY'RE SET SO HIGH. A UNIONIZED WORK FORCE IS DRIVING A HIGHER BAGGAGE. TO CREATE THE BAR. AND UNDERCUT THAT. AS LONG AS THAT'S TRUE WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO PAY YOUR DUES DOWN THERE? BECAUSE IF THE RIGHT TO WORK AND OTHER THINGS THAT ARE COMING SUCCEED AND SIGNIFICANTLY WEAKENING THE POWER OF THE UNIONIZED WORK FORCE UP HERE, THOSE WAGES IN THE SOUTH WILL DROP. AND IT'S IN THE UAW, UNFORTUNATELY, HAS FAILED TO COMMUNICATE THIS TO THE SOUTHERN WORK FORCE IN A WAY THAT UNFORTUNATELY FAILED TO COMMUNICATE. THAT'S THE BROUGHAM. GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE. THANKS VERY MUCH FOR A GREAT CONVERSATION THIS MORNING. IT'S GOING TO BE FASCINATING TO WATCH WHAT HAPPENS. THE MAYOR'S ADDRESS, AND YOU'LL SEE THAT HERE. AND MEET THE PRESS IS NEXT, SEE YOU HERE NEXT WEEK ON FLASH POINT. REAL-TIME CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY U.S. CAPTIONING

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